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Tension remains high in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State following the killing of two Nigerian soldiers by suspected armed herdsmen in the Nyihemba community, an attack that has drawn swift aerial response from the Nigerian Air Force.
According to accounts circulating on social media, the incident occurred just days after another deadly assault in the same axis. A post by a local resident identified as D’nkaked Elder Sugnhnen Yaaya described the killing of the two soldiers as part of a pattern of escalating violence in the area. The same account claimed that armed herdsmen had earlier killed four people on New Year’s Eve before launching the attack that claimed the lives of the military personnel.
In response to the latest incident, residents reported the appearance of approximately three military helicopters over the Turan area a day after the soldiers were killed. Locals interpreted the deployment as an assessment mission, with the aircraft eventually departing the scene. Community members expressed cautious optimism while awaiting the return of the Air Force team and any subsequent action or official disclosure of findings.
The post highlighted deep frustration among residents, noting that 17 percent of Kwande land is currently said to be occupied by Fulani herdsmen. It questioned why such aerial capacity had not been deployed earlier, suggesting that security forces may have been awaiting specific orders while communities continued to suffer daily losses.
Kwande LGA, located in the Sankera zone of Benue State, has long been one of the flashpoints in the state’s recurring farmer-herder conflicts. Attacks attributed to armed herders have resulted in widespread displacement, destruction of farmlands, and repeated demands for stronger military presence and decisive government intervention.
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian Air Force and the Benue State Police Command are yet to issue an official statement confirming the killing of the two soldiers, the nature of the helicopter operations, or any ongoing operations in the affected communities. Residents say they are closely monitoring developments and hoping the aerial surveillance will translate into concrete measures to restore security and halt further bloodshed.
The incident has once again amplified calls from local voices for urgent and sustained action to protect lives, farmlands, and communities in Kwande and other vulnerable parts of Benue State. Further updates are expected as more details emerge from both security agencies and eyewitness accounts on the ground.
